Friday, August 12, 2016

Waffles and Chocolate For All Because.....IT'S TOTALLY GRACED'S BLOGIVERSARY!!!!

That's right.... TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!!!!!!

My little baby of a blog is officially TWO! THAT'S SO CRAZY! (This post is probably going to be full of caps lock. I apologize in advance.) It's seriously weird to think about the fact that I've been running Totally Graced for two years now. I still remember the day that I set it up- sitting on the couch in my living room with my parents, throwing around name suggestions and trying to figure out how to work Blogger. (I have to say, I'm really glad that I went with 'Totally Graced' as opposed to some other options. I'm not even going to say what they were, but trust me- they were bad.)

The amount to which this blog has grown, from an itty bitty blog with maybe ten pageviews a day to what it is now- it's INSANITY!! I loved how Cait compared her growth on her blogiversary, so I'm going to do the same. : )

It honestly blows my mind that you all read this blog, that you take time out of YOUR day to read my crazy ramblings! Thank you, thank you all so much.

Oh my gosh. SO MANY PEOPLE. Like, I probably wouldn't be blogging if it weren't for a TON of different people.

My mom, who listens to all of my rambles about blogging, came up with the name Totally Graced to begin with, and actually was the person who suggested I start a blog in the first place. She helps me stage 90% of my shots (particularly the ones involving food- I'M SO BAD AT FOOD PHOTOS, GUYS.), and tells me when an idea is good or when it's just pathetic. She's so insanely supportive and I love her to death.

My dad, the tech brains behind the blog! Thanks for helping me figure out what the heck technology even is, because we both know I'm quite challenged in that area. ;) He listens to the blog rambles pretty much weekly on the drive back and forth to ballet- pretty sure he knows more about my blog (and Hamilton) at this point than he ever would have wanted to, haha!!!

My sisters, for letting me steal their stuff (and room!!) for blog photos constantly, listening to the rambles, and reading every post. They also try really hard to remember all of you guys's blogs, too, because I talk about them all the time. (Basically if I read your blog, they've heard of it and have probably attempted to remember your name and site by now.)SOPH! My favorite editor and the best advice giver on the planet- this girl is the reason my blog isn't an utter mess, tbh. She checks half of the things I do before I post them, as a saner voice. (Also a makeup goddess who I'm in the midst of trying to convince to start a blog herself- wish me luck!)

MY BLOGGER TRIBE!!! You guys make blogging so much more fun, and I'm so blessed to have gotten to know such incredible people through blogging. Abbie, Kate, Olivia, Rachel, Aaliyah, Mary Shelley,Hannah, Autumn, Vanessa,Katie Grace, Morning,Jacy, Abby,Julia, - you are all so incredibly talented, and you all inspire me daily!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥To my real life friends, H & C, who've read this since the beginning- thanks for not telling me I was insane when I first started and was awful. XD Y'all are the real MVP's. And...YOU!!!! If you are reading this right now, then I am immensely thankful for YOU!! I still can't get over the fact that y'all read this blog, and you leave the most encouraging comments in the entire world. I might not be blogging today if it weren't for all of your encouragement, so THANK YOU!! ♥♥

Well, for the rest of August, we still have the rest of the blogiversary celebration! Nope, it's not over yet!! It's still party time over here, and I'm SUPER excited for what's coming up! So this party month still has lots of good things coming.

As for the rest of the year..well, who knows? I'm currently planning September's blog posts, and I'm strangely full of inspiration. Like...a giant notepad full of inspiration. It's surprising, but I'm really, really excited for everything that's coming.

I also really want to expand even MORE this year, with some social media growth, and a bunch of guest posts here on Totally Graced. I know that y'all get tired of my rambles every now and then- you need a new voice!! So I'm in the midst of working out some super awesome guest posters, that I'm super honored to have here- they're all amazinggggly talented and inspire me so much.

Other than that..well, I don't have too many more plans. World domination might be nice. But other than that? I just want to keep blogging. I'm hoping to bite the bullet and finally make this more public to the people in my life, as opposed to keeping it my little secret. That's a scary thought, but I know it's definitely for the best. It shall be an adventure!!

Again, I cannot thank you all enough for your encouragement and loyalty. WAFFLES FOR YOU ALL!!! *showers you with virtual waffles and chocolate*

CONGRATULATIONS GRACE ANNE AHHHHH I feel like I should say happy birthday but it's technically not a birthday but you know what WHO CARES HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU WIN ALL THE WAFFLES AND CONFETTI AND HAPPY THINGS <3<3<3

Congratulations Grace!! All the best for your next year of blogging - it sounds like you have some amazing things planned! :) I'll be looking forward to it.. And, I'm enjoying this month of celebration too. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR BLOG <3 <3 <3 Having a blogger tribe is fun, the blogging world is SERIOUSLY amazing :D You've grown so much, it's insane, and you'll keep growing more! I feel honored to be able to celebrate this with you :)

*SCARFS DOWN ALL THE WAFFLES BECAUSE WAFFLES AND CHOCOLATE YAYAYAYAYAY* DUDE!!! CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!! Let's hear some appreciation for YOU, dude!! ;) You're one of my besties and idk what I would do without your supportive and hilarious and awesome and encouraging comments you post on my blog. <3 You're a great friend and an fabulous human and I really think you should go for it and share your blog with more people you know irl -- BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME JUST LIKE YOU.

ENJOY THE WAFFLES AND CHOCOLATE I KNEW YOU'D LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 Also your binge-reading made me so happy your comments are my favorites.Oh my goodness THANK YOU SO SO MUCH ABBIE!!! :'''') Casually crying right now. You are the best of the best and I'm so blessed to know you! I'm so thankful for your friendship! I LOVE YOU ABBIE!!!!! *hugs forevs* <3<3<3<3<3

HAPPY BLOGVERSARY!! THIS IS SO WONDERFUL AHHH!!! (And I love doing the growth-comparing-stats omg it's so fun to watch things grow and look at your milestones. <3) You have such an incredible blogging voice and your'e so amazing and fun and ALL THE CAKE FOR YOU. Well, I mean, if you're only offering waffles...all the cake for me? I'm okay with that too. *eats cake and waffles* I hope this is just the beginning of MANY glorious years of blogging!!

EEP THANK YOU SO MUCH CAIT!!!! <3<3 I love doing the stats so much! It's so fun to see the growth. Psh, you TOTALLY get cake. What's a blogversary without CAKE?? *sends you ALL the cake* Thank you so, so much, Cait! You're the best! <3

I finished reading this blog with such a warm feeling of happiness and pride in you and your blog!!!! In fact, my dad came over to ask what I was doing and I got to explain how sweet you are and how you have grown even in the time I've known you. Because I can see it, the improvement, the step-by-step growth of both you and your blog and it makes me smile! I count it as a huge blessing to have known you, and I can't WAIT to see where this next year takes you!

Hannah, oh my goodness, thank you SO much. :') You are the absolute sweetest encouragement, and I really don't know what I would do without you! You're such a blessing, I'm so glad that we've gotten to know each other through blogging! <3